GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Evan Knoll was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison and five years of supervision following his release for a years-long tax fraud scheme that defrauded the federal government of more than $110 million.

Knoll, 52, was also ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Robert
J. Jonker to pay more than $80 million in
restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

Federal prosecutors said Knoll's company filed
fraudulent claims for refunds of more than $110 million in federal gasoline
excise taxes. High-octane racing fuel is exempt from the federal excise tax on
gasoline.

Knoll pleaded guilty in July to one count of bank fraud and
eight counts of filing a false claim against the government.

"It is shocking how much federal tax money was stolen by
this defendant," said U.S. Attorney Miles in a
statement. "Evan Knoll lied to banks,
accountants, business partners, his employees, the community he lived in and to
the Internal Revenue Service for many years."